This study assessed the effectiveness of enhanced tracking and follow-up services provided by community health workers in promoting medical follow-up of persons whose elevated blood pressures were detected during blood pressure measurement at urban community sites. The primary outcome measure was completion of a medical follow-up visit within 90 days of referral. Results showed … [Read more...] about Linking community-based blood pressure measurement to clinical care: a randomized controlled trial of outreach and tracking by community health workers.
Chronic conditions
The impact of lay health advisors on cardiovascular health promotion: using a community-based participatory approach.
Overweight and obesity, lack of exercise, and exposure to tobacco smoke are clearly identified behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These problems disproportionately affect some communities. To address these problems within one community of underserved Latinos, participatory research methods were used to design an outreach program. Latina lay health advisors … [Read more...] about The impact of lay health advisors on cardiovascular health promotion: using a community-based participatory approach.
The ethnic minority linkworker: a key member of the primary health care team?
This article presents an evaluation of the role of a link-worker trained in health promotion and aspects of chronic disease management. A shift in workload occurred from the practice nurse to link-worker, and there were improvements in asthma and diabetes care. A link-worker can be successfully trained to do traditional nursing tasks, which permits a change of role for the … [Read more...] about The ethnic minority linkworker: a key member of the primary health care team?
Can community health workers improve adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in the USA? A review of the literature.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has transformed HIV infection into a manageable chronic illness, yet AIDS mortality among ethnic minorities persists in the USA. HAART nonadherence is associated with increased HIV viral load, low CD4 cell count and racial disparities in HIV outcomes. While there is no universal consensus on how to improve medical adherence in … [Read more...] about Can community health workers improve adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in the USA? A review of the literature.
Participants’ assessments of the effects of a community health worker intervention on their diabetes self-management and interactions with healthcare providers.
The specific ways in which community health worker (CHW) programs affect participants' healthcare behaviors and interactions with their healthcare providers, as well as mechanisms by which CHW programs influence these outcomes, are poorly understood. A qualitative descriptive study of participants in a successful CHW diabetes self-management program was designed to examine: (1) … [Read more...] about Participants’ assessments of the effects of a community health worker intervention on their diabetes self-management and interactions with healthcare providers.